Check it out: Getting the most out of Google Maps

Again, one thing in my reader pointed to another which led me to another, etc, and I landed here: http://mashable.com/2008/12/04/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-google-maps/

You say you can't use Google Earth at school? This may just be a very acceptable alternative. The trick to getting the most out of it is having a gmail account. Schools should REALLY be looking hard at getting the Google Docs for education. It opens up SO much!

Anyway, check out the tips on this page, including the video that he did that shows some great tricks in Google Earth. They may not all be for you, but there's sure to be at least one.

Read more »

Posted in: google,Google earth,google maps

Windows Hopping reprise

Hopping Between Windows
Have you ever needed to swap windows while you are using the keyboard? Have you needed to jump quickly from that email you are composing to the report you are supposed to be writing? Then try holding down Alt key and pressing the Tab key. Select the window you want and release the Alt key to bring that one to the front. A little dialog box will open that looks like this in Windows XP or 2000:


And looks like this in Windows Vista:


There is also an alternate way of hopping between windows that does not show this box. Simply hold down the Alt key and press the Escape key (marked Esc) to hop between windows in the order that you opened them. If you hop using this method Windows will leave any minimised windows in that state, it will not restore them like the Alt+Tab method does.

Hopping Within Windows
While we are on the subject of the Tab key, whenever you are filling in a form in a Windows program, the Tab key will generally move the cursor to the next field or button.

To move the cursor back to the previous field hold down the Shift key and press the Tab key.

Filling in a whole form from the keyboard means you get the job done more quickly and more easily, leaving more time available to 'Alt-Tab' back to that blog you were reading.

Try these shortcuts out on the following form. Click on the first field to select it, then tab between fields to your heart's content.

Field1:
Field2:
Field3:
To change the value of this press the space-bar when selected:
To change the value here use the up and down cursor keys: MondayTuesdayWednesdayYou get the idea...

[This post is an edited version of two that I originally posted on 22 August 2007 & 24 September 2008... I have been very busy writing up an assignment lately, but rest assured there will be more original material here soon]

Read more »

Posted in: Keyboard shortcut,Windows GUI